Riley Greene Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects
TRACK RECORD: A few teams considered Greene the best high school player in the 2019 draft class, ahead of the more touted Bobby Witt Jr., and the Tigers locked onto him early before taking him with the fifth overall pick. Greene made good on those predictions by shooting up to low Class A in his draft year, a rare rise for a high school prospect. He continued with an impressive cameo during big league spring training before camps were shut down by the coronavirus pandemic and spent the summer at the alternate training site.
SCOUTING REPORT: Greene is a supremely talented hitter with a unique mix of skill and maturity. He does immense damage with a fluid, powerful stroke from the left side, but he also manages the strike zone with impressive patience and possesses sound control of the barrel. He’s a consensus plus hitter and, with his frame still developing, scouts believe Greene should develop 20-plus home run power as he matures physically. While there was some discussion of Greene remaining in center field, his average speed makes him a better fit in right field, where his average arm strength will play.
THE FUTURE: Greene has the offensive potential to join Spencer Torkelson as a cornerstone of the Tigers’ lineup for years to come. In 2021, he’ll get a second chance at a first full season.
